Reversible spindle guided picker for looms



S p 1956 w. LEDOUX I 2,764,186

REVERSIBLE SPINDLE GUIDED PICKER FOR LOOMS Filed Aug. 16, 1955 22 3 0 Z83/ 3 I/ I i Z 4 F/G. 3

INVENTOR. 2'76; W/LL/AM LfflflUX Arrae/va s REVERSIBLE SPINDLE GUIDEDPICKER FOR LOOMS William Ledoux, Lisbon Falls, Maine Application August16, 1955, Serial No. 528,655 Claims. (Cl. 139-160) This inventionrelates to loom pickers and more particularly to loom pickers of thespindle guided type.

In the ordinary spindle guided picker, the picker is provided with anopening transversely therethrough to receive therein the upper end of apicker stick with the picker stick projecting through the aperture oropening. This opening tends to weaken the picker structure, and sincethe picker is subjected to heavy stresses and impact caused by themovement of the picker stick and loom shuttle, this type of picker issubject to splitting at the opening therethrough to receive the upperend of the picker stick. Several solutions have been proposed, includingreinforcing means in the opening transversely through the picker toabsorb the shock of the impact of the shuttle thereon as well as tominimize the force of the picker stick as it moves the shuttle along thespindle, or by an attachment which may be placed along the narrow faceof the picker stick and inserted through the aperture in the picker toprovide a wear plate. Even with the wear plates or otherimpact-receiving means, the picker is subject to splitting from thecorners of the picker stick receiving opening through the body of thepicker, rendering the picker inoperative for further use.

Therefore, it is the principal object of this invention to provide asimple, yet effective, picker construction which will prolong the lifeof the picker and which will avoid the possibility of splitting of thepicker by eliminating the aperture transversely therethrough for thereception of the upper end of the picker stick.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a picker of thespindle guided type which is reversible so that an opposite end of theshuttle bunter portion of the picker can be used when the end first usedbecomes worn, thus adding to the life of the picker.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a picker assemblyin which the picker may be quickly mounted in its proper relationwithout need for fine adjustment, and in which the picker can be quicklyand easily reversed or replaced in the event that the shuttle bunter endin use has become worn or replacement of the picker is required.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the following detailed description, forming the specification, andtaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the picker assembly embodying thisinvention shown in connection with the usual picker spindle and pickerstick;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the picker assembly takensubstantially along line 22 of Figure 1, with the picker stick beingomitted; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 ofFigure 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

With continued reference to the drawings, there is shown a pickerassembly, generally indicated at 10, which assembly comprises a picker Pprovided with a longitudithe picker P in its nally extending bore 12longitudinally therethrough which is slidably penetrated by a pickerspindle 14 along which the picker P will be guided in a rectilinear pathinto contact with the shuttle, and a picker support or mounting,generally indicated at 16.

The kind of picker shown is used at both shuttle ends of fancy looms,but need not be limited to this particular type of picker or loom.

The picker P is of the usual pear-shape normally employed in connectionwith picker spindles including the double ended shuttle bunting portion11. Except for the bore 12 longitudinally therethrough, internallythreaded openings 35 transversely therethrough and guide bores 20, 22and 21, 23, the body 18 is a solid piece of material of the typenormally employed in the construction of this type of picker.

The picker P is provided with pairs of spaced bores 20, 22 and 21, 23opening through the lower and upper faces 24 and 25. thereof,respectively, to receive in a selected pair of bores, guide pins 26 and28, respectively, upstandingly carried in spaced relation upon the uppersurface of the support or mounting plate 30 of the picker support ormounting 16. This will insure proper placement and accurate location ofthe picker P upon the support or mounting plate 30 of the picker supportor mounting 16. Also, the support or mounting plate 30 is provided withan upstanding guide flange 32 along one end thereof to form an abutmentshoulder against which one end of the picker body 18 will contact toproperly place the picker upon the support or mounting 16.

Means, in the form of bolts 34, pass upwardly through openings 31 thesupport or mounting plate 30 adjacent opposite ends thereof andthreadingly received in suitably formed registering internally threadedopenings opening through the lower and upper faces 24 and 25 of thepicker to secure the picker upon the upper surface of the support ormounting plate, in one position of the picker P.

The picker support or mounting 16 also includes a socket 36 integrallyformed with the plate 30 and dependingly carried thereby. Thesocket 36is provided with a picker stick receiving bore 38 opening through thelower end thereof to receive therein the upper end of a picker stick 40whereby the proper movement can be imparted to guided path of movementslidably along the spindle 14. On wall 42 there are a plurality ofopenings 44 transversely therethrough and arranged in spaced relation inspaced transverse rows, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, to lightenthe overall weight of the picker assembly.

In the event one shuttle engaging end of the shuttle bunting portion 11becomes worn from use, it is merely necessary to remove the bolts 34,then remove picker P and turn it over with the face 25 resting upon themounting plate 30 so that the guide pins 26 and 28 will be received inthe bores 21 and 23, respectively, to accurately position the picker Pon the picker support 16 with the other end of the picker body 18abutting the guide flange 32. This will place the opposite unworn end ofthe shuttle bunting portion 11 in position to engage the loom shuttle asit is moved along the spindle 14 and propel the shuttle across the loomthrough the warp shed. Bolts 34 are then inserted through openings 41and threadingly received in the registering internally threaded.openings 35 in the ends thereof opening through the face 25 to securethe picker P upon the picker support. The picker assembly is then readyfor further operation. Thus, it will be seen that the picker P isreversible.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been provided ina loom, a spindle guided picker assembly 10 which comprises a pickersupport or mounting 16,

a picker P secured upon the support or mounting for guided movementalong a picker spindle, and means defined by the depending socket 36carried by the support and adapted for attachment to means for movingthe picker assembly along the spindle. This will provide a constructionin which the picker P is of substantially solid construction to avoidtearing or splitting thereof during use to prolong its life as well asproviding a quick and relatively simple manner of attachment of thepicker assembly to the means whereby the assembly has movement impartedthereto to be moved in its guided path along the picker spindle.

While there is shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that the structure is susceptible tochange and modification Within the practicability of the invention andtherefore should be limited only by the scope of the claims appendedhereto.

What is claimed is:

1.. In a loom, a spindle guided picker assembly comprising a pickersupport including a mounting plate and means dependingly carried by saidplate adapted for attachment to means on the loom for imparting movementto said assembly in a rectilinear path along said spindle, and a pickersecured upon said plate for movement therewith, said picker having abore longitudinally therethrough for slidably receiving the spindle toguide the picker assembly in its path of movement.

2. In a loom, a spindle guided picker assembly comprising a pickersupport including a mounting plate having guide pins upstandinglycarried thereon and means dependingly carried by said plate adapted forattachment to means on the loom for imparting movement to said assemblyalong the spindle, a picker having complemental bores therein openingthrough one face thereof to receive said guide pins therein for guidingplacement of the picker on said plate, means operatively connectedbetween said plate and said picker for securing said picker on saidplate, said picker having a bore longitudinally therethrough forslidably receiving the spindle to guide said picker assembly in its pathof movement.

3. In a loom, a spindle guided picker assembly comprising a pickersupport including a mounting plate and a socket dependingly carried bysaid plate adapted for attachment upon the upper end of a picker stickfor imparting movement to said assembly, and a picker secured upon saidplate for movement therewith, said picker having a bore longitudinallytherethrough for slidably receiving the spindle to guide the pickerassembly in its path of movement.

4. In a loom, a spindle guided picker assembly comprising a pickersupport including a mounting plate having guide pins upstandinglycarried thereon and means dependingly carried by said plate adapted forattachment to means on the loom for imparting movement to said assemblyalong the spindle, a picker having complemental bores therein openingthrough one face thereof to receive said guide pins therein and anupstanding guide plate carried by said plate across one end thereofcooperating with said guide pins and complernental bores for guidingplacement of the picker on said plate, means operatively connectedbetween said plate and said picker for securing said picker on saidplate, said picker having a bore longitudinally therethrough forslidably receiving the spindle to guide said picker assembly in its pathof movement.

5. In a loom, a spindle guided picker assembly comprising a pickersupport including a mounting plate having guide pins upstandinglycarried thereon and means dependingly carried by said plate adapted forattachment to means on the loom for imparting movement to said assemblyalong the spindle, a reversible picker having spaced pairs ofcomplemental bores, a pair of the bores opening to each of the oppositefaces of said picker, a selected pair of said pairs of bores receivingsaid guide pins therein for guiding the placement of the picker on saidplate, means operatively connected between said plate and said pickerfor securing said picker on said plate, said picker having a borelongitudinally therethrough for slidably receiving the spindle toguidesaid picker assembly in its path of movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,301,298 Newton-Smith Apr. 22, 1919 2,048,836 Burgerstein July 28, 1936FOREIGN PATENTS 613,296 Great Britain Nov. 24, 1948

